Camping Travel Store Blog

We held a photo competition of the Karsten Inflatable Tents where owners could send in their best photo of the 2015 camping season.  We were really pleased with the entries that we received, and hopefully next years competition will see even more, so don't forget to get snapping when your camping in 2016! The final decision rested with the Directors of Karsten Tenten BV, who chose the photo by Clive Sutton, of his Karsten 325 in Sea Green, with Comfort Awning, Front Wall & Rain Awning at Field Barn Park Campsite near Bourton-on-the-water taken in April 2015. Link to Photo

Just back from a great weekend having taken our cub pack out camping, yes camping under canvas in Mid December! Due to the nature of cub camps, I didn't take one of the usual suspects, Karsten, ESVO or Cabanon as the fields usually end up as a bog. So out came my trusted Hurricane 300, specially bought for these types of camps. Quick to erect, sturdy in high winds, rear storage area and perfect for me & my son (not a cub yet, but wanted to come along) for the weekend. So practising our ' Staying Warm ' ideas, we made sure that the ground we were pitching on was suitably flat, compact and free from twigs and anything sharp. Once the tent was pitched, we put a blanket down on the floor to lay our 10cm memory foam topped self inflating mats on. We used 4 season Snugpak sleeping bags with upgraded liners. Sleeping bag ratings are based on the camper wearing a base layer / PJ's in bed - which is always worth considering when choosing a new bag. During the ev...

Our newly designed website is now live... There are more pages still to add, but the majority of it is complete. Please have a look... www.campingtravelstore.co.uk

Our top tips for staying warm whilst camping. If you have any other great tips - let us know in the comments below.

So as you can see we have given the blog a bit of a make over, this is to bring it in line with our new website which is nearly ready to go live.  Along with the Karsten, ESVO & Cabanon Tents, we will also be adding other products that have been tried and tested by us that we think you'll like. As you would expect they will be a must for any camper as well as being of fantastic quality! How do you like you like our new logo?  If you want to keep up to date with our blog posts, please subscribe by email.... that way when we update the site you'll be updated too!

Our September display of Karsten, Cabanon & EVSO tents is in full swing, and the sun is shinning for our second day. We open at 10am today (Sunday), but we are here all week until Sunday 20th... so there is plenty of time to come and see our range of 100% cotton canvas tents.

This was the fateful weekend that we decided to go camping with a reasonable tent, only to realise that it failed in so many ways.... not particularly water or wind resistant....draughty.... uncomfortable and took ages to erect!  It was on this weekend having borrowed my fathers estate car as now we had Lydia and had underestimated the extra luggage, prams etc... that we were introduced to the a Karsten 300 Tent in Dark Beige pitched at the back of Camping and Caravanning shop in West Runton.

The end of March in the south of France, fourteen days and nights in the Karsten, delightful.   I arrived at the lake to find the water level very high which meant a bit of digging to accommodate my home, my ever reliable Karsten.   With a bit of jiggery pokery she’s up in a matter of minutes, once my space is prepared. I fished for the next thirteen days, 24 hours a day, through constant rain, gales, storms, mistral winds and thanks to my Karsten I was warm,  comfortable and dry, oh them old days of normal carp bivvys cramped up, listening to them rattling in the wind, drips, condensation, uprooted and blown away all a thing of the past. HAPPY DAYS IN THE KARSTEN, Alan Taylor

This is a great example of a Karsten with colour coded awnings... A 350 set up in dark green. The family also have the sleeping extension to further enhance the sleeping area,leaving the main tent for day to day use. The owner said of this picture; 'This is our most recent camp (late May BH) at Glanllyn, Lake Bala in Wales.  Its a site we used to use circa 25 years ago but have started using again - excellent location for sailing as you can store boats by tents and launch straight onto Bala.  We are going back with a group of friends with similar boats in August'. We have supplied our customers with such an array of bespoke tents, if you have any photos of your set-ups we'd love to see them. Please send in any photos to info@campingtravelstore.co.uk

We received this photo from a very special couple last night. The Walton's were our very first customers way back in early 2010.... now settling in to early retirement, they are looking forward to a summer of camping in their Karsten! Happy Days...

Having just finished the display and been away from the children for two week, I naturally said 'What would you like to do this weekend?' their joint response - GO CAMPING! As it happens, it turned out really useful as I needed to see the Karsten rental tents that Town Farm Camp Site have, so it was a great excuse to take the new ESVO Bedouin 340 for a test run... there will be a review on that tent coming soon. We arrived just after lunch to glorious sunshine and managed to pitch the tent solely with everything sorted, camp kitchens and beds etc... in under an hour from arrival. The children spent the afternoon playing on the campsite and settled down for home made chill supplemented by a campsite pizza cooked on-site by the travelling pizzeria. It was awesome.... After a fantastic sunset we settled down and slept really well.  Unfortunately the tent had to come down wet, but as it was so easy to  pitch  I don't mind re-pitching when we arrive home. ...

Our June display saw the showcasing of the ESVO Bedouin range....certainly the first time I've ever seen them in the UK. Together with the Cabanon and Karsten's our show was a 'Sea of Canvas'. With over 20+ models on display as well as Karsten Commercial Range and the mainstream tents offered by Cross Camping it was a display not to be missed. Quite possibly the best in the UK! All Enquiries 01763 273662

Great new for 2015. We are pleased to announce that we are the exclusive UK Respresentatives for ESVO Campingsport of Holland. We will be displaying their Bedouin range of 100% cotton canvas pyramid tents at our June display. We will be displaying the 200/280/340 Models together with the Orca 240 and various awning configurations. We will be updating our website to feature these awesome tents. ESVO started in 1922 as sail manufacturers and started manufacturing tents in 1955. Their reputation is held in high regard and together with our range of Karsten Inflatable Tents and Cabanon's, make our display a must to visit. We are the only company in the UK showcasing these fantastic top quality European Tents. 

As some of you may have read, we are also the UK Representatives for TentWord Unlimited; the commercial side of Karsten Tenten who manufacture work and emergency tents and shelters that you may have seen. Typically the pop up tents used by telecommunication companies and the police forensic divisions to disaster relief inflatable tents as depicted below.  We love the fact that our Karsten leisure tents are increasing in popularity, and not knowing the industries our customer work in would just like to let everyone know about our other website:  Premier Work Tents Photo taken from a multi agency demonstration ahead of this years Armed Forces Day All enquired, please email: sales@premierworktents.co.uk or call 01763 273662

We now have for display the Karsten 240 Inflatable Carp Tent but in a rental material. This is a specialist WM-1 Tencate material designed for seasonal pitching and aimed at lake owners who offer a swim with a bivvy package.  Obviously this is an investment on behalf of the lakes, but with the weather experienced by many in France, anglers won't be going home due to the bivvy blowing away and gear being lost!  It was also great to see Alan Taylor at the latest display who came to cast his views over the new bivvy, as a Karsten owner himself (Cotton 240) he remarked at just how robust they are and commented that he would be recommending them. For more information, please take a look at our Karsten Carp Tent FACEBOOK Page or call 01763 273662

Our April Display proved to be the busiest yet. Not only are campers seeing the Karsten Tents on campsites and then coming to the show, but the weaker Euro means that the tents are at a great price. Let hope it holds until the Autumn Discount! The Cabanon's are edging their way back into popularity with the Bora Bora being the best seller....unfortunately we are limited with the stock at the moment so if you are looking - now is the time to buy. We were treated to a fantastic sunset over the display and in particular the Awaya and Biscaya.

Our February display weekend saw the weather test the Karsten's. From driving rain to gale force gusts of wind, the tents stood firm....as you would expect. Anyhow, we made a short video...

Although Valentines Day has passed, you still have the rest of the year to fall in love with a Karsten! Our first display is at the end of February with larger tent displays in April & June. Please see our website for further details or follow the link: HERE If you are a social butterfly, then please Like our page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Facebook Link                   Twitter Link